Somali Pirates Release Indonesian Ship

The European Union's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have released an Indonesian ship after holding it for 46 days.

The EU said pirates released the bulk carrier MV Sinar Kudus on Sunday, but it did not say if a ransom was paid. The statement added the vessel sailed to a safe port.

About 50 pirates captured the carrier in the Somali basin on March 16, as it was traveling from Singapore to Egypt. Officials say pirates later used the ship in a failed attempt to seize a Liberian-flagged vessel.

Separately, South Korean officials said Monday that a recently-seized vessel is due to arrive in Somalia soon.

The ship's management company said Somali pirates captured the MT Gemini on Saturday, as it sailed toward the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.

The chemical tanker was carrying 28,000 tons of crude palm oil from Indonesia. Its crew includes 13 Indonesians, five Chinese, four South Koreans and three Burmese.

Somali pirates have made hundreds of millions of dollars hijacking ships for ransom over the past few years.

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